OTERO COUNTY, Colo. — A 7-year-old who had been reportedly abducted by a 26-year-old woman in Lakewood was found safe outside of Last Chance, according to the Lakewood Police Department.
An AMBER Alert was issued Monday shortly before 2 p.m. for the missing child. Around 3:45 p.m., police confirmed that the child — whose name has been removed from this story — was found safe and unharmed outside of Last Chance in Washington County on Colorado's eastern plains. Colorado State Patrol spotted the vehicle, arrested the suspect, and got the child to safety, CSP said.
The suspect, identified as Crystal Denmon, 26, was taken into custody at the scene. It's not yet clear what charges she may face, CSP said.
This incident started around 6 a.m. Monday, when Lakewood police responded to an incident, possibly involving domestic violence, that had happened along the 1700 block of Kendall Street in Lakewood, said Lindsey Witzel, spokesperson for the police department. When police arrived, they found one adult with a gunshot wound.
That individual was later identified as the 7-year-old's father.
Lakewood police did not identify the alleged shooter, but said Denmon took the child from the scene. It's not yet clear if Denmon is the alleged shooter. She is not the boy's biological mother, Witzel said.
Police said they believe Denmon and the gunshot victim know each other.
Before police found them, Denmon and the boy were last known to have been in Cheraw in Otero County — which is about eight miles north of La Junta — around 12:50 p.m. Monday in a 2012 white Ford Focus. In its alert, CBI said Denmon should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anybody with information on this case should contact the Lakewood Police Department at 303-980-7300.
According to Colorado law, AMBER Alerts define an abducted child as somebody:
- 17 years old or younger
- In immediate danger or serious bodily harm
In addition, authorities must have enough descriptive information about the child to issue an alert, and the activation must come from a request from local law enforcement or an AMBER designee from another state. Learn more here.
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